Clinton, IA - Down after one inning for the fifth time in six games, the Clinton LumberKings (21-27, 51-65) were unable to mount a comeback in a 4-2 loss to the Burlington Bees (22-26, 60-57). A second consecutive two-run loss to the Bees dropped Clinton to seven games back in the race for the playoffs.

Jose Flores (3-4), in his fourth start of the year vs. Burlington, allowed a run in four of his five innings. The righty's first seven pitches missed the strike zone, and Bo Way scored on a fielder's choice that made it 1-0 in the first.

The LumberKings answered off of starter Alex Blackford (ND) in his second start vs. Clinton. Aaron Barbosa began the first with a single, and after he stole second and third, the outfielder scored on Blackford's wild pitch. Barbosa and second baseman Jack Reinheimer each had two stolen bases in the loss.

Burlington took the lead for good on an Eric Aguilera RBI single in the third, and added to the lead as the eventual game winning run crossed the plate on Erick Salcedo's single in the fourth.

Neither starter pitched into the sixth, as the final four innings for both sides went to the bullpen. Prior to Blackford's removal in the fifth, the righty allowed a home run to Tyler O'Neill, his 10th of the season, and fourth of the homestand. His solo home run brought Clinton within one, but the LumberKings never tied it.

The Burlington bullpen combination of Brian Loconsole (5-4) and Ben Carlson (SV, 10) allowed just one man to reach over the final four innings. Loconsole hit Reinheimer with two outs in the eighth, but struck out four over 3.1 no-hit innings. Carlson retired Austin Wilson, O'Neill, and Justin Seager in order in the 9th in route to the save.

Burlington outhit Clinton 7-3 in the LumberKings loss, as only Barbosa, Reinheimer, and O'Neill tallied a hit. The LumberKings went 0-5 with men in scoring position, as Burlington won for the seventh time in 18 meetings between the two clubs.

The series finale, the final meeting between Clinton and Burlington in 2014 will see Blake Holovach (6-4, 4.15) and Victor Alcantara (6-6, 3.84) pitch for the LumberKings and Bees respectively. First pitch Sunday afternoon is scheduled for 2:00 CT. The LumberKings broadcast can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.